Mineral mining installations

ABSTRACT

A mineral mining installation with a multi-section conveyor on which is guided a plough provided with a sword plate. The conveyor channel sections each have two E-shaped members attached to a barrier plate which is in turn connected to the goaf side of the conveyor. A narrow gap is produced between these two members: which members define upper and lower guide passages for a chain used to drive the plough. The sword plate extends through a gap formed between the lower ends of the conveyor and the members. The outer face of each of the members has ribs thereon for connection with shifting rams and the central limb of each member projecting towards the conveyor is of hollow reinforced construction. These webs can be detachable from the remainder of the members.

United States Patent [191 auschopp et al.

Selm; Bernd Steinkuhl, Lunen, all of Germany [73] Assignee: GewerkschaftEisenhutte Westfalia, Westfalia, Germany 22' Filed: June 28,1972

[2i] Appl.No.: 266,919

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 5, 1971 Germany P 21 33262.7 Oct. 8, 1971 Germany P 21 50 228.3

[52] US. Cl. 299/43 [51] Int. Cl. E21c 35/12 [58] Field of Search299/32, 34, 43

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,382,004 5/1968 Hauschopp299/43 X 1 Jan. 22, 1974 3,431,024 3/1969 Braun et al. 299/34 [57]ABSTRACT A mineral mining installation with amulti-section conveyor onwhich is guided a plough provided with a sword plate. The conveyorchannel sections each have two E-shaped members attached to a barrierplate which is in turn connected to the goaf side of the conveyor. Anarrow gap is produced between these two members: 'which members defineupper and lower guide passages for a chain used to drive the plough. Thesword plate extends through a gap formed between the lower ends of theconveyor and the members. The outer face of each of the members has.ribs thereon for connection with shifting rams and the central limb ofeach member projecting towards the conveyor is of hollow reinforcedconstruction. These webs can be detachable from the remainder of themembers.

23 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 2 I974 SHEET 3 0F 3 llllllll Pm Vm wr @N mm #91 MINERAL MINING INSTALLATIONS The present inventionrelates to mineral mining installations.

It is known to provide a mineral mining installation composed of amulti-section conveyor on which is guided a winning machine. The machineor plough has a sword plate extending beneath the conveyor and thissword plate is guided at the stowage or goaf side of the conveyor. Theguidance arrangement usually takes the form of components connected tothe goaf side of the conveyor to form guide channels or passages forreceiving a chain used to drive the winning machine along the conveyor.The drive forces are transmitted from the chain to the winning machinevia the sword plate. The sword plate usually has some form of guidemeans at its outer end which is disposed within the lower of the guidepassages. Special measures may be necessary to ensure that the guidemeans is accurately guided in this lower passage. The guide passages maybe produced by E-shaped brackets which are attached to the goaf side ofthe conveyor. Usually these brackets are short in relation to the lengthof the conveyor sections and disposed at a considerable distance apartso that additional devices are required to bridge over the gaps betweenthese brackets. In another construction a number of spacers are attachedto each of the conveyor channel sections to vertically separate theguide passages from one another and a single cover or cap is used toshield the passages from the goaf zone. The cap is especially heavy andunwieldy and the overall construction is cumbersome and generallydisadvantageous. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the knownguidance systems are not wholly suitable for transmitting shiftingforces to the conveyor.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improvedinstallation of the aforementioned kind.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the invention there is provided amineral mining installation comprising a scraper chain conveyor composedof a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end and at leasttwoguide members disposed closely adjacent one another and attached toone side of each channel section, the guide members being substantiallyE-shaped in cross-section with upper and lower flanges and a centralweb, adjoining a main wall, the guide members being disposed outwardlyfrom the conveyor so as to form upper and lower chain guide passages.Normally barrier plates would be disposed between the guide members andthe conveyor channel sections. Preferably a small gap is disposedbetween the guide members allocated to each channel section of theconveyor as there is between the adjacent guide members of two adjacentconveyor'channel sections. These gaps enable the chain to be observedand enable thechannel sections to be angularly deflected inrelation toone another to a limited extent.

The guide members can be constructed to enable the shifting forces to betransmitted to the conveyor. By having two guide members for eachchannelsection the weight of the individual members is kept within acceptablelimits and these members can thus be transported and handled withoutundue difficulty. Moreover by making the members of identicalconstruction and preferably completely symmetrical the members can beinterchanged and vertically re-orientated to cope with wear.

Preferably, the central web of each guide member is of hollow reinforcedconstruction. This web may have a number of cross pieces projectingtowards the conveyor and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor toform a series of U-shaped compartments open towards the conveyor. Theupper surfaces of the cross pieces form a running surface for thesections of a chain disposed in the upper guide passage. Each of theapertures preferably has an aperture therethroug'h for receiving a boltused to secure the associated guide member to the conveyor. Theseapertures can be in the form of vertical slots enabling the guide memberto be readily adjusted in relation to the conveyor.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the outer face ofthe main wall of each guide member is formed with two longitudinal ribshaving upwardly and downwardly directed flanges. At least one of theflanges of the longitudinal ribs has a series of apertures therein toenable shifting rams to be connected to the guide members. The shiftingforces can thus be distributed and transmitted through the reinforcedcentral web of the guide members to the conveyor. The guide members maybe an integral casting although a multipart welded construction isalsopossible. In another embodiment the central web is detachable fromthe remainder of each guide member. This web may be constructed from twoplates interconnected at their ends and crosspieces arranged betweensaid plates and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor. In aspecific construction four such cross-pieces are provided for eachcentral web, the inner faces of the plates and the crosspieces definingreception zones for fixing bolts which are used to secure the web andthe remainder of the associated guide members to the conveyor.

Further according to the invention there may be provided fixing devicesfor clamping the guide members to the conveyor, each of said devicesbeing engageable with a shaped aperture provided in the transition zonebetween the main wall and the upper flange of the associated guidemember. Each fixing device may have a hook-like projecting arm whichengages with the guide member in the region of the shaped aperture.

, The invention may be understood more readily and various otherfeatures of the invention may become more apparent from consideration ofthe following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a mineral mining installation madein accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows at the left-hand side a sectional plan view of one part ofthe installation taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1, and at theright-hand side a plan view of the other part of the installation takenalong the line II'--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the installation taken in the direction of thearrow III of'FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of a further mineral mininginstallation made in accordance with the invention with theconveyor-omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 5 shows at the left-hand side a sectional plan view of one part ofthe further installation taken along the line VV of FIG. 4 and at theright-hand side a plan view of the other part of the installation takenalong the line V'V of FIG. 4',

FIG. 6 is an end view of the further installation taken in the directionof the arrow VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a detachable central web for use with theinstallations shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to3, there is shown a mineral mining installation with a scraper chainconveyor generally denoted 1.-The conveyor 1 is, in the known manner,composed of individual channel sections joined end-to-end and movable toa limited extent in respect of one another. Each of these channelsections is constructed from profiled side walls 1' of generallysigma-shaped cross-section connected to a floor 1". A scraper chainassembly, which is omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity, iscirculated along the floors 1" of the channel sections and guided by theside walls 1'. A winning machine such as a plough would be guided formovement along the mineral face side of the conveyor 1, i.e. along thewalls 1' adjacent the face. On the stowage or goaf side of the conveyorthere is provided barrier plates 18 of L-shaped crosssection. Theseplates 18 each have an upper flange extending outwardly from theconveyor 1 and the plates 18 are arranged end-to-end along the conveyor1 to form a continuous wall. Usually a single barrier plate 18 extendsalong each of the channel sections of the conveyor I. A series of guidemembers 2,2 are attached to the barrier plates 18 and more particularlytwo such members 2,2 are allocated to each channel section of theconveyor. The length of these two members 2,2 is such that a narrow gap22 is produced at the centre of each channel section.

As shown in FIG. 3, each guide member 2,2 is basically of E-shapedcross-section with a main outer wall 14, an upper flange 14' a lowerflange 14" and a central web 9. The guide member 2,2 may be formed as acasting. The upper flange 14 and the central web 9 of each guide member2,2 is affixed to the associated barrier plate 18 so as to form twoguide passages, namely an upper guide passage 19 and a lower guidepassage 24. The substantially continuous passages 19, 24 thus formed bythe collective guide members 2,2 are separated from one another by thewebs 9 and serve to receive an endless chain (not shown) used fordriving the winning machine or plough along the conveyor. The return runof the chain is disposed in the passages 19 whilst the haulage run ofthe chain is disposed in the passages 24. V

A gap 25 is formed between the lower part of the barrier plates 18 andthe side walls 1 of the conveyor channel sections on the one hand andthe lower flanges 14 of the guide members on the other hand. This gap 25receives a terminal portion of a sword plate (not shown) attached to thewinning machine and extending beneath the conveyor in known manner. Thesword plate serves to guide the machine and transmits the driving forceof the chain thereto. The end of the sword plate is disposed within theguide passage 24 and one or more guide bodies (not shown) would connectthe sword plate to the haulage run of the chain in the passage 24 andthese guide bodies would be guided for movement within the passage 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the central web 9 of each guide member 2,2 isbasically a hollow reinforced structure provided with spaced-apartcrosspieces to form U- shaped compartments 10,I1,12,I3 open towards theassociated barrier plate 18. Each of these crosspieces 90 is itselfprovided with an aperture 15 extending through the main wall 14 of theguide member 2,2. Fixing bolts 16 are inserted through these apertures15 to pass through bores in the associated barrier plate 18 and therebyserve to attach the guide members 2,2 to the plate 18. Additional fixingmeans generally denoted 91 are provided at the region of the upperflanges 14' of the members 2,2. The apertures 15 are preferably in theform of vertically-orientated slots to permit the guide members 2,2 tobe positioned vertically prior to tightening of the bolts 16. Shapedwashers 23 are provided under the head of each of the bolts 16 at theoutside of the wall 14. The upper faces of the crosspieces 90 form arunning surface 20 for the return run of the drive chain.

The outer face of the wall 14 of each guide member 2,2 is provided withtwo longitudinal ribs 3,4 disposed centrally of the member 2,2 andgenerally aligned with the web 9. Vertical ribs 5 are connected betweenthe ribs 3,4 and spaced apart longitudinally of the members 2,2. Themain ribs 3,4 are curved over portions of their length in the region ofthe apertures 15 and the ribs 3,4 are provided with small flanges 6,7extending generally parallel to the main wall 14. The upper flange 6 isprovided with recesses 8 spaced apart longitudinally of the member 2,2and serve to locate shifting rams (not shown). The forces produced bythese rams which act to bodily move the conveyor and associated partstowards the mineral face are in the main directed through the reinforcedcentral part of the members 2,2. I

FIGS. 4 to 6 depict a further embodiment of the invention where theconveyor is omitted except for the ghost outline of the goaf side wall1' of one of the channel sections shown in FIG. 6, so that only thebarrier plates 18 and the guide members 2,2 are shown in detail. Forconvenience like reference numerals throughout FIGS. 4 to 6 denote thesame features described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shownin FIGS. 4 to 6 two guide members 2,2 are attached to the barrier plate18 provided at the goaf side of the conveyor. Each guide member 2,2 isagain of E-shaped cross-section with an upper flange 14', a central web9 a lower flange 14" and a main wall 14.

Each member 2,2 is symmetrical about the horizontal plane m so that theycan be inverted with either the flange 14 or the flange 14" at the top.The members 2,2 are fabricated by casting and/or welding. As shown inFIG. 5 the central web 9 is a body 17 provided with apertures 15receiving bolts 16, located in bores in the barrier plate 18. The headsof the bolts 16 are disposed at the outside of the apertures in the mainwall 14 and shaped washers preferably underlie these heads. Ribs 3, 4are welded onto or otherwise produced at the outside of the main wall 14and these ribs 3,4 extend over the entire length of the member 2,2. Aplate 21 is connected across the edges of the ribs 3,4 to lie parallelto the wall 14. Apertures 21' are provided in the plate 21 to permitaccess to the bolts 16. The edges of the plate 21 are also provided withrecesses 21" spaced apart longitudinally of the plate 21. The recesses21 permit connection with shifting rams (not shown) and the shiftingforces produced by these rams are in the main transmitted to theconveyor via the reinforced web 9. Additional fixing devices 26 forfixing the members 2,2 to the barrier plate l8 are disposed at theregion of the upper flanges 14. Each device 26 has a hooklike projectingarm 27 which is received by a shaped aperture 18 provided in thetransition region between the main wall 14 and the upper flange 14' ofthe associated member 2,2 to lock the member 2,2 to the device 26. Asimilarly shaped aperture 28 is provided in the transition region of theflange 14" and the wall 14 of each member to permit the members 2,2 tobe inverted. Where the members 2,2 are formed by bending and weldingbefore the flangesl4, 14" are produced by bending an H-shaped cut awayportion (FIG. 4) pro duced in the position where it is desired to formthe apertures 28 will result in the automatic formation of the aperturewhen the flanges l4', 14" are bent over.

Each device 26 has a certain amount of clearance in respect of the upperflange 14' of the associated member 2,2 and this enables the member 2,2to be released and re-co'nnected in an inverted position with the flange14" now at the top. Such re-connection may be desirable when a certainamount of wear has occurred.

Each device 26 is attached to the barrier plate 18 with the aid of abolt 32 which extends through a web 33 of the device 26. Each device hasextensions 3! which abut the barrier plate 18 to provide leveragebetween the point of application of the bolt 32 and the barrier plate18, so that the device 26 can clamp the member 2,2 to the barrier plate18 with considerable force.

The devices 26 each have an upright plate 34 at the outerside of theconstruction and this plate 34 has bores therein the enable accessoriessuch as cable clamps or the like to be attached to the device 26.

In the above-described constructions the central web 9 of each member2,2 is either formed integrally with, or else rigidly attached to, theremainder of the member 2,2. lt is however feasible to use detachablewebs connected to the member 2,2 with the aid of the fixing bolts 16 forexample. An example of a detachable web 9 is shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7 the web 9 is formed from two par- 'allel plates 40,41which have converging ends 42 that are welded together. The width of theplates 40, 41 in a plane perpendicular to the drawing is equal to thewidth of the passages 19, 24 and to the distance between the inner faceof the main wall 14 of the associated member 2,2 and the outer'face ofthe barrier plate 18. A number, in this case four, of cross-pieces 43-46are welded between'the plates 40,41 with the crosspieces 43, 46 near theendsof the webs 9 and the crosspieces 44,45 near the centre. Thedistance between the crosspieces 44,45 and the distance between theplates 40, 41 is somewhat greater than the diameter of the fixing bolts16. Three bolts can be used in the position shown to affix the web 9 tothe remainder of the structure and clamp the member 2,2 to the barrierplate.

The web 9 thus constructed is symmetrical about the plane m and hencecan be used with the plate 40 or 4i uppermost. In the case of wear theweb 9 can thus be inverted and in due course replaced.

We claim:

1. A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyorhaving a plurality of channel sections joinedend-to-end, a mineralwinning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, twoguide members attached to the other side of each channel section, eachof the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section withupper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, thecentral web having a number of crosspieces projecting towards theconveyor and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor to formcompartments open towards the conveyor, the flanges and the central webof the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upperand lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upperand lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed between thelower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lowerflanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected tothe machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connectwith the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each of saidcrosspieces has an aperture therethrou'gh for receiving a bolt used tosecure the associated guide mem' ber to the conveyor.

3. An installation according to claim 1, wherein upper surfaces of thecrosspieces form a running surface for the sections of a chain disposedin the upper guide passage.

4. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the guide members areof identical construction.

5. An installation according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed betweenthe guide members connected to each channel section.

6. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each guide member isconstructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be invertedvertically and re-connected to the conveyor.

7. An installation according to claim 1, wherein barrier plates areconnected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide membersallocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrierplates.

8. A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyorhaving a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineralwinning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor,guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, eachof the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section withupper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, thecentral web being detachablymounted on said main wall and formed fromtwo plates interconnected at their ends with crosspieces arrangedbetween said plates and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor, theflanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towardsthe conveyor to form upper and lower.

guide passages defined between, the central web and j the upper andlower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper andlower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the otherside of each channel section and the lower flanges of the as- 9. Aninstallation according to claim 8, wherein the guide members are ofidentical construction and a gap is formed between the guide membersconnected to each channel section.

l0. An installation according to claim 8, wherein each guide member isconstructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be invertedvertically and reconnected to the conveyor.

11. An installation according to claim 8, wherein barrier plates areconnected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide membersallocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrierplates.

12. An installation according to claim 8, wherein four crosspieces areprovided for each central web, the inner faces of the plates and thecrosspieces defining reception zones for fixing bolts which are used tosecure the web and the remainder of the associated guide members to theconveyor.

13. A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyorhaving a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-encl, a mineralwinning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, twoguide members attached to the other side of each channel section, eachof the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section withupper and lower main flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall,the outer face of the main wall of each guide member being formed withtwo longitudinal ribs having upwardly and downwardly directed flanges,the main flanges and the central web of the guide members being directedtowards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages definedbetween the central web and the upper and lower main flanges,respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lowerpassages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other sideof each channel section and the lower main flanges of the associatedguide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extendingthrough at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed inthe lower guide passage.

14. An installation according to claim 13, wherein the guide members areof identical construction and a gap is formed between the guide membersconnected to each channel section.

15. An installation according to claim 13, wherein each guide member isconstructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be invertedvertically and reconnected to the conveyor.

16. An installation according to claim 13, wherein barrier plates areconnected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide membersallocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrierplates.

17. An installation according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal ribsare interconnected by upright ribs spaced apart longitudinally of theguide member.

18. An installation according to claim [3, wherein at least one of theflanges of the longitudinal ribs has a series of apertures therein toenable shifting rams to be connected to the guide members.

19. A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyorhaving a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineralwinning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, twoguide members attached to the other side of each channel section, eachof the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section withupper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, thecentral web of each guide member having apertures therein receivingbolts serving to fix the guide member to the conveyor, each guide memberbeing of symmetrical construction permitting the member to be invertedvertically and re-connected to the conveyor, the outer face of the mainwall of each guide member being formed with two longitudinal ribs with aplate being connected between said ribs to lie parallel to said mainwall, said plate having apertures therein permitting access to saidbolts and recesses at its edges for connection to shifting rams, theflanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towardsthe conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between thecentral web and the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chaindisposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between thelower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lowerflanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected tothe machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connectwith the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

20. An installation according to claim 19, wherein a gap is formedbetween the guide members connected to each channel section.

21. An. installation according to claim 19, wherein barrier plates areconnected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide membersallocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrierplates.

22. An installation according to claim 19, wherein there is providedfixing devices for clamping the guide members to the conveyor, each ofsaid devices being engageable with a shaped aperture provided in thetransition zone between the main wall and the upper flange of theassociated guide member.

23. An installation according to claim 22, wherein each fixing devicehas a hook-like projecting arm which engages with the guide member inthe region of the shaped aperture.

1. A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyorhaving a plurality of channel sections joined end-toend, a mineralwinning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, twoguide members attached to the other side of each channel section, eachof the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section withupper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, thecentral web having a number of crosspieces projecting towards theconveyor and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor to formcompartments open towards the conveyor, the flanges and the central webof the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upperand lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upperand lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed between thelower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lowerflanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected tothe machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connectwith the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.
 2. An installationaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said crosspieces has an aperturetherethrough for receiving a bolt used to secure the associated guidemember to the conveyor.
 3. An installation according to claim 1, whereinupper surfAces of the crosspieces form a running surface for thesections of a chain disposed in the upper guide passage.
 4. Aninstallation according to claim 1, wherein the guide members are ofidentical construction.
 5. An installation according to claim 1, whereina gap is formed between the guide members connected to each channelsection.
 6. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each guidemember is constructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be invertedvertically and re-connected to the conveyor.
 7. An installationaccording to claim 1, wherein barrier plates are connected to said oneside of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channelsection are secured to one of said barrier plates.
 8. A mineral mininginstallation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality ofchannel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mountedfor movement along one side of the conveyor, guide members attached tothe other side of each channel section, each of the guide members beinggenerally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flanges and acentral web adjoining a main wall, the central web being detachablymounted on said main wall and formed from two plates interconnected attheir ends with crosspieces arranged between said plates and spacedapart longitudinally of the conveyor, the flanges and the central web ofthe guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper andlower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper andlower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper andlower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the otherside of each channel section and the lower flanges of the associatedguide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extendingthrough at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed inthe lower guide passage.
 9. An installation according to claim 8,wherein the guide members are of identical construction and a gap isformed between the guide members connected to each channel section. 10.An installation according to claim 8, wherein each guide member isconstructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be invertedvertically and re-connected to the conveyor.
 11. An installationaccording to claim 8, wherein barrier plates are connected to said oneside of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channelsection are secured to one of said barrier plates.
 12. An installationaccording to claim 8, wherein four crosspieces are provided for eachcentral web, the inner faces of the plates and the crosspieces definingreception zones for fixing bolts which are used to secure the web andthe remainder of the associated guide members to the conveyor.
 13. Amineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor havinga plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winningmachine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, two guidemembers attached to the other side of each channel section, each of theguide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper andlower main flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the outerface of the main wall of each guide member being formed with twolongitudinal ribs having upwardly and downwardly directed flanges, themain flanges and the central web of the guide members being directedtowards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages definedbetween the central web and the upper and lower main flanges,respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lowerpassages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other sideof each channel section and the lower main flanges of the associatedguide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extendingthrough at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed inthe lower guide passage.
 14. An installation according to claim 13,wherein the guide members are of identical construction and a Gap isformed between the guide members connected to each channel section. 15.An installation according to claim 13, wherein each guide member isconstructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be invertedvertically and re-connected to the conveyor.
 16. An installationaccording to claim 13, wherein barrier plates are connected to said oneside of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channelsection are secured to one of said barrier plates.
 17. An installationaccording to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal ribs are interconnectedby upright ribs spaced apart longitudinally of the guide member.
 18. Aninstallation according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the flangesof the longitudinal ribs has a series of apertures therein to enableshifting rams to be connected to the guide members.
 19. A mineral mininginstallation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality ofchannel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mountedfor movement along one side of the conveyor, two guide members attachedto the other side of each channel section, each of the guide membersbeing generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flangesand a central web adjoining a main wall, the central web of each guidemember having apertures therein receiving bolts serving to fix the guidemember to the conveyor, each guide member being of symmetricalconstruction permitting the member to be inverted vertically andre-connected to the conveyor, the outer face of the main wall of eachguide member being formed with two longitudinal ribs with a plate beingconnected between said ribs to lie parallel to said main wall, saidplate having apertures therein permitting access to said bolts andrecesses at its edges for connection to shifting rams, the flanges andthe central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyorto form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central weband the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposedwithin the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lowerextremity of the other side of each channel section and the lowerflanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected tothe machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connectwith the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.
 20. An installationaccording to claim 19, wherein a gap is formed between the guide membersconnected to each channel section.
 21. An installation according toclaim 19, wherein barrier plates are connected to said one side of theconveyor and the guide members allocated to each channel section aresecured to one of said barrier plates.
 22. An installation according toclaim 19, wherein there is provided fixing devices for clamping theguide members to the conveyor, each of said devices being engageablewith a shaped aperture provided in the transition zone between the mainwall and the upper flange of the associated guide member.
 23. Aninstallation according to claim 22, wherein each fixing device has ahook-like projecting arm which engages with the guide member in theregion of the shaped aperture.